Some thoughts and reports from outings...

This mountain sticks in the memory ever since first reading about it in William Murray’s books. I wanted to keep this for a fine day, so with crisp wintry scenes setting in across Scotland I decided now was the time to make a crack at this one.The forecast suggested incoming weather from about early afternoon onwards but the morning should be fine and I had a vision of a cracking sunrise before getting more wintry crisp shots further up the hill- best laid plans…..So up and away by 05.15am and caffeine was definitely required following only 3hrs sleep! The stars were out but started to disappear around Tyndrum---mmmm this must be patchy low level cloud I thought, surely not the weather front moving in! I was on the Ferry before 0800 and dawn was staring to provide some visibility of my surroundings and also the incoming weather front LI didn’t hang about getting ready and was hiking by 0815. I got a nice spot for some sunrise shots but it was clear the sunrise was spectacular somewhere further east – managed to catch the pink glow… Glad I did as this was the last views I was to get for some time!!! (note – see if you can spot the female face on the mountainJ)… Very shortly afterwards the snow started and I huffed and puffed to a summit at 560m on the Sron a’ Gharb Choir Bhig… Feeling knackered with little sleep little brekky and carrying a bag filled with (now redundant) camera equipment I sat and watched the snow get heavier and the winds pick up. I decided to go home….It amazing what a warm drink and bite to eat can do though!!!! A new plan was hatched – I decided to leave the heavy camera equipment and see how I got on with the lighter load. It was still hard going as the snow was deep and fresh, no neve! And the ground very uneven under foot…. However I persevered and eventually made the summit around noon. Spindrift and wind meant I was soon picking my way back through the white room and after a lengthy and slow descent I was back at the car for 1400 feeling pleased at reaching the top but disappointed at not seeing the great cliffs as described in William Murrays books L The day wasn’t over yet though as in the incoming weather has spread across Scotland making the drive home snowy and challenging! Needless to say –I slept much better on the Saturday night following this!!

30th April 2005. This was a Bank Holiday weekend and was also the last time I was up Stob Dubh and Stob Coir Raineach. Since then I hadn’t been back up Buachaille Etive Beag (BEB), having seemingly climbed every other Gelncoe hill numerous times apart from this one!A rather miserable Boxing Day forecast meant our initial plans were scrapped and so I suggested a hike up BEB. This would give us shelter until the Bealach where we would assess the conditions. The walk was fine and the snow deep, we could see the snow twisters spilling over the Bealach and down our side of the hill. We eventually reached these with sudden gusts hitting us then fading as quickly as they had come. However as we neared the Bealach the wind was ferocious. We probably made it to around 850m before making a decision to descend. The blizzard and white room was bad enough here and the ridge above wasn’t offering any shelter!! Back to the car for 10.30am but glad to have been out to burn off the Christmas Day caloriesJ

Six days later and we set off again for the same hill. A weather window was scheduled -although winds were still forecast to be gusting to 45mph in the morning and rising as the day proceeded. Left the car round 9 and were first on the hill. The drifts made for some leg sapping trail breaking but the tops were clear and views magnificent! Our Snow twisters and spin drift soon made a reappearance but the winds were nowhere near as bad as Boxing Day. Goggles and gear on, we progressed up to point 902m. What a fine ridge, back in 2005 it had been cloudy and we didn’t get to see this.We made the top at the back of 10 after battling the spindrift! The walk back was made much more comfortable by having the winds at our back and in fact the winds were easing (contrary to what was forecast) and the spindrift and snow twisters started to fade….A quick descent to the Bealach and we decided to crack on to Stob Coire Raineach. A quick blast up here and then home. The hill was now busy and met lots of folks coming up, hope they all enjoyed the da as much as us. A grand start to 2016….

The most southerly Munro and possibly the mountain most ascended by the people of Glasgow, a fine outing and one that’s been done many times…. The weather hasn’t been something to shout about so far this year so when a short settled spell was forecast we decided to take another “tick” off the list. The hills were white after a few days of heavy snow and the forecast until the next day was for light winds on the tops.We met after work in Glasgow and were soon arriving in the Rowardennan carpark just as those that had been able to ascend during the day were packing up and heading home… Quickly gearing up, we were off quickly ascending the path toward Tom Fithich. Our planning had been that we should still have enough light to reach the first ridge before getting the torches out and this was indeed the case. With no wind we were sweating and until we stopped at the Bealach Buide we were walking with long sleeved base layers and Gilets only- not something that happens often in a Scottish January whilst ploughing through the snow!However the down side was that the snow pack wasn’t frozen and snow shoes may have helped on the ascent up! As we rose onto the Ptarmigan ridge we rose above the first layer of cloud, Loch Lomond had disappeared under the blanket…Walking along the shoulder the gloom deepened and the light faded. It was rather eerie, seemed strange for me to be headed up in these conditions without the tent and a wild camp planned!Soon we reached the foot of the final pull up to Ben Lomond’s 974m summit. Torches on and we geared up for the final pull. As we moved the white snow in front of us sparkled and shone and as the second layer of cloud was reached the snow crystals floated in the air sparkling around us. Care and technique was required as we continued to break trail on these steep slopes to the summit. In the day you can see the wonderful views and appreciate the situation of the Ptarmigan ridge, however in the darkness it’s the stark line between white and black that reminds you of where you are. Passing the light left to right, this black void keeps you on the right line, and soon we reach the rimmed up trig point – half way…… As light breeze blows some summit mist around and every now and then the moon appears - lighting up the slopes around us, the light of Glasgow are just visible between he cloud layers of the inversion and when not completely visible an amber hue is lighting up the cloud tops from below…. It’s a wonderful place to be, familiar but completely alien at the same time ….Bearings taken and we started the second part of the adventure descending on the never ending path over Sron Aonaich and finally back through the forest to the car. A fine outing in the summer and a fine mountaineering effort in the winter …. Over the next few days the gales and mild air returned melting the snow and filling the Loch! We were glad to have been able to experience this mountaineering adventure…. Next ones in the planning J

First up was part two of my mission to capture some winter scenes following my earlier trip up Beinn Chrulaiste last month. An early start and I was soon heading up the Devils Staircase with the head torch on, although it soon came off as dawn approached. My plan was to head for the northern side of the Glen perhaps heading as far as Am Bodach. As it turned out I never made it past Stob Mhic Mhartuin, the snow was fresh and deep and the view point was stunning enough to stop me here for long enough to take some photos.

Before I reached Mhartuin though, I had to stop as sunrise appeared before I reached the summit at 707m. I was probably half way between the top of the Devils Staircase and Stob Mhic Mhartuin when I decided it was time to stop for sunrise. The views North were amazing! The Mamores wore a thick white snowy coat and a faint pink line struck across the horizon as sunrise approached. To the south and east a bank of cloud obscured the first signs of sun, but the sun soon rose above this cloud illuminating the snowy landscape starting with the Ben and moving south as it rose in the sky. The clarity and views were superb and I felt reluctant to leave my spot. However I soon packed away the camera and drone and headed for Stob Mhic Mhartuin. It exceeded expectations, the views were amazing. I took so many photos and films that my hands were numb by the time I was packing my kit away – hot aches followed – not something I’ve experienced from photography! Hope the video and photos look as good as the views were in real time and do the location justice – a great spot and unlikely to meet too many people up here J Before I reached Mhartuin though, I had to stop as sunrise appeared before I reached the summit at 707m. I was probably half way between the top of the Devils Staircase and Stob Mhic Mhartuin when I decided it was time to stop for sunrise. The views North were amazing! The Mamores wore a thick white snowy coat and a faint pink line struck across the horizon as sunrise approached. To the south and east a bank of cloud obscured the first signs of sun, but the sun soon rose above this cloud illuminating the snowy landscape starting with the Ben and moving south as it rose in the sky. The clarity and views were superb and I felt reluctant to leave my spot. However I soon packed away the camera and drone and headed for Stob Mhic Mhartuin. It exceeded expectations, the views were amazing. I took so many photos and films that my hands were numb by the time I was packing my kit away – hot aches followed – not something I’ve experienced from photography! Hope the video and photos look as good as the views were in real time and do the location justice – a great spot and unlikely to meet too many people up here J

Next up and I headed for a location perhaps opposite in the fact that it was very crowded! From looking over to the Bidean Massif I now headed to explore it. Up Broad Gully to a clear SCNL summit (views were amazing). The weather soon turned and by the time we reached the highest point in Argyll the cloud and wind were upon us! Fully kitted up we dropped back to the Bealach between the two peaks and descended into the Lost Valley. The wind was now up and the crisp air of the morning had turned more raw as moisture and snow filled the air. Soon we were back at the car feeling a tad satisfied. A grand time had again in Glencoe.